Swarthmore College Reviews

One semester into Swarthmore and I feel as if I am a completely different person. I have just grown so much here and been forced to think in ways that are much different than the ways high school necessitated from me. I discovered that I am actually more of an extrovert and less of an introvert; This epiphany dawned upon me after the realization that I could, at Swarthmore, engage in deep and lengthy conversations with other students. While individual achievement was emphasized at my High School, I've managed to develop new networking skills with the principle of never working alone and achieving together. Another thing that stands out about my experience at Swarthmore is that I haven't had the chance yet to operate once again under a cynical mindset, everybody is so nice here. I've learned to trust people again!

Swarthmore is a hard nut to crack. The students are not one way or another; they all come from different backgrounds, each with different experiences. But they do have one trait that is common among them: they like to think! And not just about the everyday questions that we come across in daily life; we like to think about why things are the way they are, even to the point that we're sick of thinking about them, and the campus supports this 100%. Swarthmore College truly is a unique place, and if you take the time to appreciate it, and are a genuinely "thoughtful" person, you will fall in love the same way that I did.

My biggest risk ever taken was the decision to leave my hometown of Snellville and attend Swarthmore College on a generous financial aid package. That was the first time I'd moved to another state, physically left my family for a semester at a time, and survived on my own in a strange place. But after over 3 years, Swat has helped me find knowledge, community, solidarity, my politics and philosophy, new mentors/professors and best friends, and a better sense of myself. I am sure that the connections I forged at Swat will continue to enlighten and support me in the future. I am ineffably glad that I did choose to go to a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania instead of a university in Georgia over the objection of some family members. I would definitely do Swat again if I could.